• Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences introduces two annual intakes to expand access to higher education
• Reform targets up to 2,500 students and 30–35 programs by 2029
• Initiative aims to address youth unemployment and structural skills mismatch

Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences launched a restructuring of its academic system to increase the number of graduates. The public university announced on Tuesday, March 31 that it will introduce two annual intakes in January and August.

The institution aims to expand its academic offering to between 30 and 35 programs and to enroll nearly 2,500 students by 2029. The university designed the reform to meet rising demand for higher education and to address systemic inefficiencies that penalize failing students.

University leadership presented the reform to Bright Msaka, Minister of Education, during an official visit in Lilongwe. Vice-Chancellor Nancy Chitera outlined the new fully semester-based calendar.

The reform corrected a key weakness in the previous system. Under the old model, a student who failed one subject had to repeat the entire academic year. The new structure organizes academic senate sessions at the end of each semester and allows students to retake exams quickly and continue their studies without interruption.

MUBAS aligned infrastructure upgrades with its enrollment targets. The university plans to convert between 700 and 900 existing housing units into student residences. Management estimates that this initiative will accommodate an additional 320 students.

The government endorsed the reform while emphasizing quality control. Minister Msaka stated that the university must “réussir académiquement sans compromettre les standards éducatifs”.

He also urged the institution to maintain affordable housing costs to ensure accessibility for students.

The reform responds to structural imbalances in the labor market. According to the Copenhagen Consensus Center, one-quarter of young people in Malawi face underemployment.

The data show that most young workers hold low-skilled jobs, including university graduates. More than 40% of highly qualified youth work in low-productivity, often informal activities.

Malawi operates under an 8-4-4 education system that includes eight years of primary education, four years of secondary education, and four years of higher education.

However, MUBAS must recruit additional academic staff and maintain training quality as it scales enrollment. The success of the reform will depend on the university’s ability to balance expansion with educational standards.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum